Buckle



M. RUSKIN May 12, 1942.

BUC KLE Filed Feb. 25,` 1941 Parasiau May 12,1942

mastai office BUCILE Morris Ruskin, Sea Point, `Capetown, Cape Province, Union of South Africa Application February 25, 1941, Serial No. 380,546 In the Union'of-South Africa May 3, 1940 6 Ciaims.

This invention relates to bucl-:les (e. g. for fastening or tightening together the parts of garments) of the type in which the buckle frame is provided with a prong or other gripping device which .is adapted to engage with or grip a Strip of material passed through the frame.

The object of the present invention is to pro- Vide a buckie of this type which can be permanently concealed within the garment -or other article with which it is used, and can nevertheless serve its purpose and be adjusted eifectively and conveniently.

According to the inventiom a buckle of the type stated is provided in which the strip to be engaged or gripped by the prong or other device is made of a rigid or Springy character, or otherwise has sufiicient rigidity to be pushed as a whole endwise, and the prcng or gripping device itself is urged by spring means into gripping engagement with the Strip, So that by -merely pressing the gripping device against the action of the Spring means and `pushing together or easing apart the parts of the garment wherein the buckle is concealed, the Strip will be caused to slide relatively to the buckle frame, and will be immediately re-engaged by the gripping device when the pressure thereon is relaxed.

Buckles embodying the invention will now be described by way of exampie with reference to the annexed drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a buckle made according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of a modified form of buckle embodying the invention; and

Figure 3 is a view in perspective of another modified form of buckle embodying the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, the buckle frame I -iS adapted to be Secured by stitching to one part of the garment (not shown), and the Sliding Strip 2 is adapted to be Secured by stitching at its right-hand end to the other part of the garment, i. e. the part to be drawn more or less towards the part first mentioned. The Strip 2 is made of Spring steel with notches 3 along its length for engagement by the hook 4 of a Spring grip 5 which is fixed in a clamp 6 formed integral with the buckle frame I.

As will be apparent, the hook 4 can be disengaged from its notch 3 in the sliding Strip 2 by merely pressing the Spring grip 5 downwards. Thereupon the Springy Strip 2 can be slid relatively to the buckie frame I, i. e. through the aper- .tures 6 provided in the forwardly bent fianges 1 thereof. The user has no difficulty in Operating the Spring grip 5 an'd Spring-y Strip v-2 by touch,

through the-cloth or the like -ofV the parts of the .garment in which the buckle frame and Strip are incorporated and the appropriate notch 3l of the Strip 2 will be immediately reengaged by the hook'li when the pressure on-the spring grip 5 is relaxed. i

Referring to Fig. 2, in this case the buckle frame 3 is bea'ded overV at its top and bottom edges so as to form sleeves 9 and- I in which are Secured the limbs of a U-shaped Spring support I i. Upon this Spring support, a laterally projecting prong I2 is provided. The frame '8 is formed with a central aperture I 3, the prong IZ being in substantial alignment with the centre of this aperture. A Spring steel strip ili passes through the aperture 3 and'in front of the U-Shaped support I I in such a manner that the Strip passes behind the adjacent part 15 of the frame 8, which arrangement results in the springy Strip l being` under a Constant pressure onto a prong i2.

In order to disengage the prong i from any of the holes IS of the Strip Hi, the latter need formed with a fiange |8 which is provided'with'- i a slot 19 through which passes a Spring Steel Y Strip 20. The frame I'f is formed at its other. end with a sleeve 24 (which, for the `Sake of clearness, is shown partly broken away in the drawing). The bottom of the sleeve 2! is closed so as to accommodate a coiled Spring 22, and the upper part of the sleeve 21 is occupied by a plun'ger 23. The sleeve 2! is formed with diametrically opposite slots 24 through which passes .Ia Spring Steel Strip 20, and the plunger V23, at the partV 25 thereof adjacent to the Strip 20, is made of semi-circular cross-Section So as to pass up -be-' hind the Strip, and thus not interfere with its lengthwise movement.v At the junction lof the part 25 (which is of semi-circular cross-section) and the lower part of the plunger 23 (which is of circular Section), a landing 2'6 is formed,` and this constitutes a tooth engageable with notches 21 formed on the lower edge of the Strip' 20.'

As will be appreciated, the landing 26 canibe disengaged from the notches 21 by merely de,- pressing the plunger 23 against the action of the Spring 22, whereupon -the Strip 28 can be -m^oved. -lengthwise in relation Ato the `buck-le frame :11.

As in the case of the other buckles described, the grip upon the sliding Strip is restored automatically by the Spring means, after the Wearer has adiusted the garment to his or her satisfaction.

AS will be seen, the buckle constituting my invention can be readily made of a compact fiat construction, all the parts lying in substantially the same plane. It can thus be entirely accommodated Within a hem, Waist-hand, shoulder- Strap, suspender, or the like. i

The parts of the buckle may conveniently be made of metal, preferably of a non-rusting variety. As applied to the WaiSt-band of a pair of trou-l sers, skirt or the like, buckles as above described serve to Support the hips and keep the garment in a straight round position.

I claim:.

1. A buckle for fastening together two relatively movable parts of an article and adapted to be concealed therein, comprising a rigid frame structure for one of said parts and having an opening therein, an elongated relatively fiat strip of Spring steel for the other of said parts having a series of openings spaced at intervals lengthwise thereof, said fiat Spring steel strip being arranged for lengthwise movement relative to said frame Structure through the Opening therein with the plane of the fiat resilient strip disposed parallel and closely adjacent to the frame J structure, and Spring biased means carried by the frame structure operable normally to engage one of the openings in said Spring steel strip thereby to secure the same against lengthwise movement With respect to the frame structure, said Spring biased means being disengageable from the openings in the Spring steel strip by effecting a relative separation thereof and said fiat Spring steel Strip having Suficient rigidity crosswise the plane thereof to move lengthwise relative to said frame Structure upon effecting a relative separation of the strip and said Spring biased means.

2. A buckle for fastening together two relatively movable parts of an article and adapted to be concealed therein, comprising a rigid frame structure for one of said parts having an opening therein, an elongated relatively fiat-strip of Spring steel for the other of Saidparts having a series of openings spaced at intervals lengthwise thereof, said fiat Spring steel strip being arranged for lengthwise movement relative to said frame structure through the opening therein with the plane of the fiat resilient strip disposed parallel and closely adjacent the frame structure, and Spring biased means on the frame Structure disposed intermediate the latter and the spring steel strip and including a hook portion operable normally to engage one of the openings in said Spring steel strip thereby to secure the same against lengthwise movement with respect to the frame structure, said Spring biased means being disengageable from the openings in the Spring steel strip by effectinga relative separation thereof and said flat Spring Steel strip having sufiicient rigidity crosswise the plane thereof to move lengthwise relative to said frame structure upon effecting a relative separation of the strip and said Spring biased means.

i structure for one of said parts having a fiat body portion and fianges at its opposite ends provided with aligned slots therein extending parallel to said frame structure body portion, an elongated relatively fiat strip of Spring steel for the other of said parts having a series of openings spaced at intervals lengthwise thereof, said fiat Spring steel strip being arranged for lengthwise movement relative to said frame structure through the slots in the end fianges thereof with the plane of the fiat resilient strip disposed parallel and closely adjacent to the frame structure, and Spring biased means carried by the frame structure operable normally to engage one of the openings in said Spring steel strip thereby to secure the same against lengthwise movement f with respect to the frame structure, said Spring biased means being disengageable from the openings in the Spring steel strip by effecting a relative separation thereof and said fiat Spring steel strip having sufiicient rigidity crosswise the plane thereof to move lengthwise relative Ikto said frame structure upon eifecting a relative separation of the strip and said Spring biased means.

4. A buckle for fastening together two relatively movable parts of an article and adapted to be concealed therein, comprising a rigid frame structure for one of said parts having a fiat body portion and fianges at its opposite ends provided With aligned slots therein extending parallel to said frame structure body portion, an elongated relatively fiat strip of Spring steel for the other of said parts having a series of openings spaced at intervals lengthwise thereof, said fiat Spring steel Strip being arranged for lengthwise movement relative to said frame structure through the slots in the end fianges thereof With the plane of the fiat resilient strip disposed parallel and closely adjacent the frame structure. and Spring biased means on the frame structure disposed intermediate the latter and the Spring steel strip and including a hook portion operable normally to engage one of the openings in said Spring steel strip thereby to secure the same against lengthwise movement with respect to the frame structure, said Spring biased means being disengageable from the openings in the Spring steel strip by effecting a relative separation thereof and said fiat Spring steel Strip having sufi'icient rigidity crosswise the plane thereof to move lengthwise relative to said frame structure upon effecting a relative separation of the strip and said Spring biased means.

5. A buckle forl fastening together two relatively movable parts of an article and adapted to be concealed therein, comprising a rigid frame structure for one of said parts, a fiat body portion provided With an Opening therein and having turned over edge portions along two opposite edges of said body portion, an elongated rela tively fiat strip of Spring steel for the other of said parts having a series of openings spaced at intervals lengthwise thereof, said fiat Spring steel Strip being arranged for lengthwise movement relative to said frame structure through the opening therein with the plane of the fiat resilient strip disposedparallel and closely adjacent the frame structure, and Spring biased means Secured in the turned over edge portions of the frame structure and including a portion extending crosswise of the Spring steel strip and provided With a projection, said means being operable normally to urge said projection into engagement with one of the openings in said steel strip thereby to secure the same against lengthwise movement with respect to the frame structure, said Spring biased means being disengageable from the openings in the Spring steel Strip by effecting a relative separation thereof and Said fiat Spring steel Strip having Sufi'icient rigidity crosswise the plane thereof to move lengthwise relative to said frame Structure upon eifecting a relative separation of the Strip and said Spring biased means.

the slots in said fiange and sleeve portions with the plane of the fiat resilient Strip disposed par- 6. A buckle for fastening together two rela- Strip of Spring steel -for the other of said partsV having a Series of openings Spaced at intervals lengthwise along an edge thereof, said flat Spring Steel Strip being arranged for lengthwise movement relative to said frame Structure through v Structure upon effectinga relative Separation allel and closely adjacent to the frame Structure, a plunger element Slidably mounted in the tubular Sleeve portion and inc1uding a portion arranged for engagement with the openings in said Spring steel Strip, and Spring means biasing Said plunger in a direction normally urging said portion thereof into engagement with an Opening in the Strip thereby to secure the same against lengthwise movement relative to the frame Structure, Said plunger being disengageable from the openings in said' Strip by actuatingthe plunger against its Spring bias to effect a relative Separation of said plunger'and Strip, and Said Strip having sufiicient rigidity crosswise the plane thereof to move lengthwise relative to the frame the plunger and Strip.

i MORRIS RUSKIN. 

